Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  "I am Assemblyman Danton Michelakakis, from the House of Protection, and I would like to be taken to my mother."

  Both guards silently looked at him for several moments before one looked down at the tablet he was holding. " You are not on our list," he informed Danton.

  "Yes, I know that. I would still like to see my mother, Jacinda Michelakakis. She's staying in the Royal Wing."

  "I'm sorry, Assemblyman Michelakakis. Without proper clearance, we cannot let you pass."

  "Is there a problem here?"

  The words came from behind Danton. He turned to find a man, at least five inches shorter than himself, standing behind him. He was wearing a House of Knowledge uniform.

  "No, Captain," the guard quickly informed the other man.

  "Yes, there is," Danton countered. "I am Assemblyman Danton Michelakakis, and I would like to see my mother, Jacinda Michelakakis."

  "She knows you are coming?" the shorter man questioned.

  "She knows I am here, she doesn't know I wish speak to her."

  "Madame Michelakakis is currently preparing for the Royal Ball. As an Assemblyman, you will also be at the Ball. You can speak to her then."

  As the Captain turned to leave, Danton put a restraining hand on his arm. "Now see here, Captain. Just who do you think you are?"

  "I am Captain Peter Chamberlain and you will remove your hand or I will remove it for you."

  Danton immediately realized that even though the other man was smaller than he was, he was much more lethal. He had heard about Peter Chamberlain and about his amazing skills. It's why Stephanie was so excited to come here. Danton quickly removed his hand.

  "Captain Chamberlain, I apologize, but it is of the utmost importance that I speak with my mother before the Ball. Please."

  Peter silently stared at him for several moments and whatever he saw on Danton's face must have convinced him. "I will take you to Prince Barek. He can decide if you should be allowed to see Jacinda." Peter turned to the guard, "Notify Prince Barek we are on our way."

  "Right away, Captain."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Danton, what are you doing here?" Barek demanded pulling open the outer door of the Royal Wing.

  "I need to speak to my mother, Barek, before the Ball."

  "You haven't done that yet?" Barek couldn't believe it.

  "No," Danton admitted, "and I need to. She needs to know that I love her and support her in all her decisions. Just as she always has mine."

  Barek was silent for several moments, trying to decide if he believed Danton. Nevertheless, in the end he knew it wasn't up to him. It was up to Jacinda.

  "Follow me. They're in their private living quarters. Dad asked that they not be interrupted until it was time to leave, but I think Jacinda is going to want to see you."

  "Thank you, Barek," Danton's reply was heartfelt.

  "Don't thank me yet," Barek gave him a hard look. "If you upset her, you're going to have two angry Tibullus men to deal with."

  "I'll wait here to escort him back," Peter told Barek.

  "I'll have Deffand do it. I know you have a lot going on already. Thank you, Peter, for bringing him here," Barek told him.

  "Don't thank me yet. If he upsets Jacinda, he'll also have to deal with two very unhappy Chamberlain men." After giving Danton one last hard look, Peter spun on his heel and returned to his duties.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham looked down at the box in his hands, surprised to discover how nervous he was. It wasn't like he hadn't done this before but for some reason this was different. This was Jacinda, and he wanted to do it right. He needed to make up for his thoughtlessness at not realizing what everyone would think of her, say to her, and how they would act toward her. No one would ever harm her, not while he was alive. Now all he had to do was get her to say yes.

  To being his Queen.

  Would she really be willing to do that and assume the responsibilities that came with it? He knew he was asking a lot of her. Asking her to change not only her life but also the lives of her children. Because this would affect them too.

  A knock on the door to their private living area had Jotham frowning. He had told Deffand that he didn't want to be disturbed. Striding impatiently toward the door he yanked it open and found Danton and Barek on the other side. Neither of them looked happy.

  "What?!!" Jotham demanded.

  "I would like to speak to my mother," Danton informed him.

  Jotham gave Danton a hard look. He didn't want Jacinda upset before the Ball. He knew it still weighed heavily on her mind, Danton's reaction to their relationship and his refusal to take her comms. She was his to protect now and protect her he would. Even if it was from her own family.

  "You had your chance to talk to her before now."

  "I know but what I need to say needs to be said in person."

  "Danton, what are you doing here?"

  Jacinda's words had all three men turning toward her, stunned by the vision entering the room.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda was just doing the final check of her gown in the full-length mirror when she heard voices in the outer room and one of those voices sounded like Danton. Spinning away from her image, she went to find out what was going on. Opening the door to the living room, she found not only Danton there but also Barek.

  "Danton, what are you doing here?" she demanded walking into the room unaware of the effect of her entrance. She looked from Danton to Barek to Jotham in confusion when no one answered her. Jotham was the first to recover.

  "You look absolutely stunning," he told her, slowly approaching and taking in every inch of the magnificent gown she was wearing. It was the perfect combination of House of Protection violet and House of Healing gold, worn as only Jacinda could.

  "You're sure it's alright?" Jacinda let him see her doubt.

  "It's perfect, just as you are. It makes me want to show you off and not let you out of this room all at the same time." Leaning down, Jotham gave her a deep kiss.

  "Ahem," Barek coughed discreetly into his hand to remind them that they were not alone.

  Reluctantly, Jotham broke off the kiss. He turned to face Danton but remained at Jacinda's side, showing Danton that they were one.

  "Danton, what are you doing here?" Jacinda asked her face still flushed from Jotham's kiss.

  "I needed to speak with you, before the Ball." Danton let his own eyes run over his mother. "Ancestors, Mother, I've never seen you look more beautiful. Being in love agrees with you."

  "It does," she told him softly.

  "Perhaps we should give you two a private moment..." Barek began only to be cut off by Danton.

  "No. I need to say this to my mother and for you both to hear it too." Danton took a deep breath then focused his gaze on his mother. "I am so sorry I reacted the way I did, Mom. I have no excuse for it and you have every right to be angry with me... to be disappointed in me. I think that hurts the worst, knowing that I disappointed you. You have always supported me, no matter what and the one time you need me... You of all people have the right to be happy, and even an idiot like me can see that King Jotham makes you happy."

  Danton's gazed turned to Jotham. "Thank you for making my mother happy again. For loving her. I know my father would approve." His gaze returned back to his mother. "The rest will work out because we're a family, a family with two more members now. Moreover, before long, Stephanie will come around. She's just the most stubborn of the three of us."

  "Oh really?" Jacinda quizzed arching her eyebrow, even as her eyes filled at her son's acceptance. "I believe Stephie would say you are the stubborn one." Moving forward she hugged her son.

  "She'd be wrong," Danton wrapped his arms around his mother and let her loving embrace heal all hurts, just as it had done all his life. "I love you, Mom."

  "I love you too, Danton. Thank you for coming here. I know it was hard for you."

  "No, it...Don't cry, Mom!" Danton exclaimed. "Are you
trying to get me killed?"

  "What?" Jacinda pulled back to frown at him. "Danton, no one's going to kill you!"

  "Okay maybe not kill," Danton corrected. "But I'll be hurting in the morning if I upset you."

  "What are you talking about?" Jacinda turned questioning eyes to Barek only to find him innocently looking up at the ceiling. So she turned her eyes to Jotham. "Jotham?"

  "Let's just say, that the men of the House of Protection protect their women," he told her.

  "But he's my son!" Jacinda gave him a sharp look.

  "It doesn't matter. You’re mine, Jacinda," Jotham's eyes hardened. "And no one is allowed to hurt or upset you."

  "Oh please," she rolled her eyes at him. "You might be the King, but not even you can stop that."

  "I can do everything in my power to try, which is why…." Turning away from her, he went to the table where he'd placed the box. Opening it, he took out the circlet then slowly walked back to her. "I had planned on doing this when we were alone, but I think now is perfect."

  "Jotham? What are you..." Jacinda's words froze when Jotham suddenly went down on one knee before her.

  Jotham looked up at her then slowly raised his hands revealing the betrothal circlet.

  "Jacinda Crocetti-Michelakakis, I love you. You will be the last woman I will ever love. Would you do me the greatest honor of my life by becoming my wife? My Queen? I know we still have a great deal to overcome and that it won't be easy for us or our families, but I don't want to spend one more day the ancestors have blessed me with, without you by my side. To do so would be pointless.

  "I..." Jacinda couldn't get her throat to work. She hadn't expected this, had never expected this. Lata was always to be Jotham's only Queen. She'd made her peace with that. "I... I don't know what to say..."

  "Say yes!" Danton and Barek exclaimed in unison and when Jacinda looked at them, she found them both grinning like fools as they had in that visual taken so long ago. Looking back at Jotham, still on one knee waiting, she nodded.

  "Yes. Yes! I'd love to be your wife, Jotham."

  Slowly Jotham rose, his eyes still locked with hers. "And my Queen?"

  "If that's what you truly want, then yes," she agreed nodding.

  Without another word, Jotham placed the circlet on her head that would announce to all of Carina that she was the future Queen. The moment his hands were free, he swept her up in his arms, crushing her against his chest as he captured her lips for a deep, heartfelt kiss.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "You know, one of us should break them up or they'll never make it to the Ball," Barek leaned over slightly to tell Danton, trying to keep a straight face.

  "I defer to you, oh mighty Prince," Danton replied grinning widely. "You, after all, are the heir. It’s not like you can be sentenced to death for 'upsetting' the King and future Queen." Danton's eyes were full of humor as he looked at Barek. "I, on the other hand, am just a lowly Assemblyman, here only to serve. Oh, and then there's the fact that technically, I'm now your older brother, so suck it up and get in there."

  Barek's eyes widened in shock then narrowed, not because of Danton's words but because of the true affection behind them. This is what having a brother was supposed to be like. But he wasn't going down without a fight. "Really, so you think age trumps rank?"

  "In family it does." Danton gave him a hard nudge forward with his shoulder. "So get to it."

  "Hmph, I can see we're going to have to set some ground rules here," Barek muttered.

  "Good luck with that. Ethan and Stephanie have been trying for cycles."

  "You know your sister can kick your ass, right?" Barek asked even as he moved forward.

  "She can try." Danton just crossed his arms and grinned.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Barek and Danton were quietly talking as they walked through the Royal Wing.

  "Are you sure you don't want to enter the Ball with us?" Barek asked. "You are family now."

  "Thank you, but I think it would be better if I stay with the other Assemblymen. It will give me the chance to find and tell Stephanie and also to watch Pajari's reaction. He's been up to something ever since you talked to him."

  "Really? What have you found?" Barek demanded.

  "Lots of credit movement. He thinks he's being secretive, but I have a friend from my Coalition days that's a whiz at finding things like that."

  "Excuse me, Prince Barek." Both men turned not realizing Deffand had walked up behind them.

  "Yes, Deffand?" Barek asked.

  "Why would Assemblyman Michelakakis enter the Ball with you?"

  Barek grinned at Deffand knowing he could tell him. "Because my father just proposed to Jacinda and she accepted. The House of Protection is getting a new Queen." Deffand didn't grin back.

  "What?!! Why wasn't I informed? Fuck!" Deffand was immediately on his comm. "Green! I need you and your entire guard armed and outside the Royal Wing in five!" His eyes shot back to Barek. "Has anyone informed Chamberlain yet?"

  "I don't think so since it only just occurred," Danton informed him when Barek only frowned at Deffand.

  "What has you so concerned, Deffand?" Barek asked.

  "It had been decided that only the King's Guard would accompany you to the Ball as Captain Chamberlain's trainees would be assisting the House of Knowledge security. But I refuse to trust my future Queen's security to anyone other than our own people. I also need to make sure Assemblyman Michelakakis has protection along with Stephanie."

  "I'll be fine, and Stephanie is a guard," Danton told him.

  "You are no longer just an Assemblyman, Sir. You are now directly related to the Royal family. If the purists react badly to this, they could attack you. It's my job to make sure that doesn't happen. Get used to it."

  "Barek," Danton turned to him looking for assistance.

  "He's right, Danton. While the majority of our people are going to react favorably to this, there are those that will not. No one is going to get close to Jacinda but you.... You know as well as I do it would devastate your mother if you were harmed."

  Danton sighed heavily, "Alright, but I don't want them near me until you are about to enter the Ball. It will make everyone suspicious."

  "I make no promises," Deffand told him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to inform Peter of this change and Green. Prince Barek, you will be remaining in the Royal Wing until we leave?" Although Deffand phrased it as a question, neither man doubted it was an order.

  "Yes," Barek told him.

  "Good, then Assemblyman Michelakakis, if you would follow me I'll make sure the proper security escorts you back to the Public Wing.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Adelaide's eyes widened as she watched Danton Michelakakis walk out of the heavily guarded door that she knew led into the inner wings of the House of Knowledge. A place neither she nor Elliott had ever been allowed to enter. Following behind him were several House of Protection Royal Guards.

  "Elliott!" she hissed. "Do you see what I see?"

  "Hmm?" Elliott's eyes traveled around the room quickly spotting what had his wife so upset, his own eyes widening. "Yes, I do."

  "What do you think it means?" Adelaide demanded.

  "I have no idea. Why don't you go ask Danton?" Elliott told her shortly, thinking it looked like he would have to move up his plans to 'disappear' with Bebe.

  "I was serious, Elliott." Adelaide gave him a sharp look.

  "So was I. If you want to know so badly, go ask him." For the first time in his life, Elliott Pajari wasn't going to defer to his wife. She would be on her own soon, just not soon enough for him.

  "What has gotten into you, Elliott Pajari?!! You know I can't just go up and ask."

  "Why not?" he taunted. "Danton just might tell you."

  "These things have to be done subtly. Have you learned nothing in all the cycles we've been wed?"

  "Oh, I've learned a great deal, Adelaide. A great deal. You just might be surprised."

&nbs
p; "Doubtful," she snorted inelegantly. "You've never 'surprised' me in your life, Elliott."

  "Things change, Adelaide. Now, do you want to go into the Ball or just stand here and argue?"

  Adelaide gave him a sharp look. She wasn't sure what was going on with him, but he had a point. People were starting to give them strange looks. "Let's go," she ordered then held out her arm so he could escort her into the Ball.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the circlet so it nestled securely within her hair but was still prominently seen. She still couldn't believe it was on her head.

  "You look beautiful. You always do." Jotham's image joined hers in the mirror, his eyes full of love. "I'm sorry."

  "For what?" she asked turning around to face him.

  "For not realizing people would consider you my companion. That you considered yourself my companion. That was never my intent."

  "That didn't matter, Jotham. You were what mattered."

  "No. You are what matters. You should have told me what Adelaide said to you."

  "How did you find out...." Jacinda's eyes narrowed. "Green."

  "No, but how I found out doesn't matter. What matters is that you didn't tell me. How would you have reacted if that had happened to me, or Barek, or one of your children and no one informed you?"

  "Infuriated," she admitted with a sigh. "It was just..."

  "No. Jacinda, there is no 'just.' We are going to have enough challenges ahead of us; we don't need to add more by keeping things that matter from one another."

  "You're right. I'm sorry. I should have told you." She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him. "Next time I will."

  "There won't be a 'next' time. If anyone says something to you, Jacinda, and I mean anyone, you have the right to respond any way you want. You always did, my Queen or not."

  "I know, and normally I wouldn't have allowed Adelaide to have the last word, but it had been a horrible day and I just wanted to get away. Letting her think she was in charge was the easiest way."